1000 people were killed in the Congo this week. Some were slaughtered, some executed.
The Congo has been involved in a civil war for the past 4 1/2 years. Details are still unclear, but given the history of the conflict reports say rival tribes, Ugandan troops and rebels were involved.

Algeria
8 Austrian tourists are now reported missing in Algeria. The region is a popular destination for adventure tourists, and is also an area where civil law is almost non existant. 21 tourists have disappeared since mid-February.

Afganistan
A close ally of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been shot and killed in central Afghanistan, provincial government officials have said. As the long re-building of a shattered country continues, coalition forces are concerned continued unrest may be escalating due to the Iraq war.

SARS
It is getting harder as the world grows smaller with communication technology for governments such as China to keep lethal secrets such as the spread of SARS. But, that having been said, fatalism exists in the psyche of this giant nation. This report is a first hand look at the situation in Guangzhou among the citizens.

Canada is showing a higher mortality rate than other countries, due to the cluster outbreak and the age of patients who contacted the virus. Another Canadian died yesterday.
What rumbles uneasily in the back of my mind while SARS romps around the world is….third world countries where santitation, illiteracy and minimal communications exist. India, parts of Africa, other areas of China, parts of South America….

WHO

Disease Outbreak Reported

As of today, a cumulative total of 2416 SARS cases and 89 deaths have been reported from 18 countries. This represents an increase of 63 cases and 5 deaths compared with yesterday. The deaths occurred in Hong Kong SAR (3), Malaysia (1), and Singapore (1). The death reported by Malaysia represents the first case reported in that country.

New cases were reported in Canada (5), Hong Kong SAR (39), Taiwan, China (2), Singapore (1), the United Kingdom (1), and the United States of America (15). One of the two probable cases reported in Switzerland was removed from the list.